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Hunter shares history of celebration goggles

Hunter shares history of celebration goggles

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By Jason Beck
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MLB.com |

MINNEAPOLIS -- Somewhere stashed away in Torii Hunter's locker in the visiting clubhouse at Target Field is a pair of swim goggles waiting to get soaked. There's a history behind it. To hear Hunter talk about, there's more history about celebration goggles in Minnesota than people realize.

Though David Ortiz has received a lot of credit for incorporating goggles into clinching celebrations from the Red Sox's run through the 2004 playoffs, Hunter says that goes back to his first celebration in Minnesota.

"Me and David Ortiz started it in 2002 with the Twins," Hunter said. "He brought it to the Red Sox."

It was a lesson the two learned after the Twins clinched the American League Central in the final week of the season that year. Their eyes burned enough from the champagne that they still hurt the next day. When the Twins beat the A's in the AL Division Series, they were prepared.

It started with a small pair, but each year has seen players donning bigger and bigger goggles.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.